Round 1 NFL Mock Draft

Posted onApril 24, 2018byDominick Pfisterer

With the 2018 NFL Draft coming up this Thursday, it’s a great time to take an in-depth look at where your favorite prospects will land. Here at All-Pro Nation, there have been interactive mock drafts on Twitter in which the fans would pick which prospect fell to which team. Now, we offer a mock draft of the first round of the 2018 NFL draft done by contributors to the All-Pro Nation team!

Pick 1: Cleveland Browns. Selection – Sam Darnold, QB USC.

After an 0-16 season, the Browns have had the eventful offseason. Drafting their future franchise quarterback makes sense, considering they have not had the luxury of a franchise quarterback in over 20 years; they can’t get it wrong again…Right?

Pick 2: New York Giants. Selection – Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State

Big Blue being a year removed from an 11-5 season and Super Bowl aspirations, found themselves at 2-14 this year largely due to injuries to key players such as Odell Beckham Jr. Taking Barkley makes sense because not only is he the most dynamic player in the draft, but he also gives the Giants a rushing attack they so desperately need.

Pick 3: New York Jets. Selection – Josh Allen, QB Wyoming

The biggest city of them all gets the biggest arm of them all here at three. The Jets have two quarterbacks on one-year deals in Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown. Having a three-way competition for quarterback is perfect for Allen because it gives him the chance to show he is a day one starter if he wins it while also allowing him to sit for a year if he takes longer to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

Pick 4: Cleveland Browns. Selection – Bradley Chubb, DE NC State

As seen with the Philadelphia Eagles (2018) and the New York Giants in (2007/2012) pass-rushers win championships. Here, the Browns have the opportunity to take the best pass-rusher in back to back drafts (Myles Garrett in 2017). Pairing Chubb with Garrett sets up a dynamic defensive line for years to come.

Pick 5: Denver Broncos. Selection – Josh Rosen, QB UCLA

John Elway taking his protocol, know-it-all, son is a match made in heaven. They’re like Peanut Butter and Jelly, Batman and Robin, Romeo and Juliet…let’s hope for a different ending for these star-crossed lovers. Their subtle cockiness will be what binds these two signal-callers for life.

Pick 6: Indianapolis Colts. Selection – Quenton Nelson, G Notre Dame

(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After star-quarterback Andrew Luck missed the entire 2017 season with a shoulder injury, it would be wise to invest on protecting this young superstar. Nelson gives the Colts a ten-year starter potential at guard, and his school-yard bully mentality will be infectious throughout the locker room in Indianapolis.

Fitzpatrick’s versatility is too much to pass up for the Bucs as their secondary needs a youth movement. Fitzpatrick and play safety, corner, and even nickel at times. The Buccaneers grab a day-one starter. Fitzpatrick adds even more young talent to a Bucs team that underachieved last season (5-11) but has made solid moves this offseason to bolster its defensive line — including trading for former Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul and signing former Eagles DLs Vinny Curry and Beaux Allen.

Pick 8: Chicago Bears. Selection – Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama

Taking Ridley here adds to a completely revamped wide receiver room this offseason. Ridley joins Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel as Mitchell Trubisky’s good behavior in 2017 earned him some shiny new toys to play with.

Pick 9: San Francisco 49ers. Selection – Roquan Smith, LB Georgia

After Reuben Foster could not keep his nose clean this offseason, it makes sense for the 49ers to take his replacement in Roquan Smith. Smith provides the same freak-of-nature type athleticism that Foster once provided, and that Patrick Willis once provided before him.

As the Jon Gruden era begins, the Raiders will be looking to establish an old-school identity of elite defense, and drafting Tremaine Edmunds fits that mold after missing out on the Roquan Smith sweepstakes. Edmunds also adds to a talented defense featuring Khalil Mack.

WEE WOO WEE WOO!! Trade Alert!! Bill Belichik is making Belichik moves. Nick Foles has ended Tom Brady’s career, as the GOAT is unsure of whether he will play this season, riding camels with Giselle in Egypt, renewing their vows and celebrating a second honeymoon. Just kidding, Belichik just needs an insurance plan after butchering the Garoppolo situation.

Pick 12: Buffalo Bills. Selection – Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Baker Boozefield is coming to Buffalo. The Mafia finally has the fiery leader they so desperately need. Plastic tables smash, emotions run high, the next Jim Kelley has arrived in Buffalo. Tailgates in Orchard Park will never be the same.

Pick 13: Washington Redskins. Selection – Vita Vea, DT Washington

After taking Jonathan Allen, Vita Vea provides another element to a young, talented Redskins defensive interior. With Alex Smith at quarterback, the Redskins will be looking to be competitive — with a defensive mentality and a quarterback more conservative than Donald Trump.

Pick 14: Green Bay Packers. Selection – Denzel Ward, DB Ohio State

The Packers’ secondary in 2017 was almost as disgusting as the team’s color scheme. Taking Ward here shows that management is not deliberately wasting Aaron Rodgers’ time — perhaps just accidentally wasting it.

After the loss of the Honey Badger, the Cardinals will be looking for his replacement in James. The former FSU safety is as versatile as they come, he will be able to pick up right where Honey Badger left off.

Pick 16: Baltimore Ravens. Selection – Marcus Davenport, EDGE UTSA

The Ravens add to their history of strong defenses by selecting Davenport. There is no such thing as too many pass-rushers in the NFL. The Ravens have been very active in free agency, signing three wide receivers for their “elite” quarterback Joe Flacco.

Pick 17: Los Angeles Chargers. Selection – Da’ron Payne, DT Alabama

Have you caught on that we think defensive line is important to winning games? Football is a simple sport, dominate the trenches and your chances of winning exponentially increase. Putting the House of Payne on the same defensive line as Joey Bosa is a recipe for success.

Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks. Selection – Josh Jackson, DB Iowa

In a hailmary attempt to resurrect the Legion of Boom, Seattle takes Jackson to fill the void of the outspoken Richard Sherman.

Pick 19: Dallas Cowboys. Selection – Courtland Sutton, WR SMU

With the departure of Dez Bryant, the Cowboys look to grab his replacement in the big-bodied sutton. Giving Prescott a young weapon on the perimeter is a necessity Jerry Jones has been reluctant to provide…until now.

Pick 20: Detroit Lions. Selection – Derris Guice, RB LSU

The Lions have not had an 1,000 yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013 (say what?) nabbing Guice here adds a between-the-tackles rushing threat that the Lions have not seriously had in the Matthew Stafford era.

Pick 21: Cincinnati Bengals. Selection – Isiah Wynn, G Georgia

USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals have weapons in place. Joe Mixon has a high ceiling as a RB and AJ Green is one of the best receivers in football. Grabbing Wynn here provides consistency in the interior of the offensive line, a key factor to WYNing games..haha..get it?

Pick 22: Buffalo Bills. Selection – Mike Hughes, DB UCF

Coming off a HUGE national championship (LOL) Mike Hughes will ride this wave into Orchard Park, pairing nicely with shutdown corner TreDavious White.

After losing Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins look to get younger up front by adding the former Gator. Keeping Bryan in-state will benefit both parties involved.

Pick 24: Carolina Panthers. Selection – Christian Kirk, WR SMU

P Ditty gets Cam a new weapon here. Wait…P Ditty hasn’t bought the team yet? oh..oh well..anyways…..Carolina gets Cam Newton a new weapon in the talented Kirk. Kirk should pair well with Devin Funchess, who is poised to have a breakout year in 2018.

Pick 25: Tennessee Titans. Selection – Will Hernandez, OL UTEP

Tennessee adds to their already young and talented offensive line by adding the bar-room brawler, Will Hernandez.

The absence of a tight end was evident in the Atlanta Falcons passing game in 2017. Their Red-Zone struggles are a large indicator of this. Adding the talented Goedert should help Matt Ryan and co. fix those issues.

The blue collared Vander Esche will be just what the Steelers are looking for after the horrible injury suffered by Ryan Shazier last season. Vander Esche provides leadership and toughness that is necessary in a middle-linebacker.

Pick 29: Jacksonville Jaguars. Selection – Rashaan Evans, OLB Alabama

“Saxonville” needs to continue to bolster their linebacking core after the loss of Paul Posluzny to retirement. Evaans adds athleticism on the edge that fits well with that iconic Jacksonville defense.

Slick Rick does it again, after his top guard prospects are off the board, Vikings GM Rick Spielman acquires a plethora of picks from Belichik; who trades back into the first round to take a chance on the highly talented Alexander. Alexander can fill the gap that Malcolm Butler left.

The Dolphins select their insurance plan for Ryan Tannehill’s knee in the very accurate Rudolph. Trading back with New England allows them a great opportunity to sit back and let the board fall to them in this aspect. After missing the entirety of 2017 with a catastrophic knee-injury, all eyes will be on Ryan Tannehill. Miami’s Cutler nightmares are over.

Pick 32: Philadelphia Eagles Selection – Mike Gesicki, TE Penn State

Your Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles will add to their already strong grouping of weapons for Carson Wentz. The Eagles have the luxury here to take best player available as most defending champions do. Gesicki will flourish no matter if Wentz or Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles is throwing to him early in the season, and he will have Super Bowl champion Zach Ertz to show him the ropes…Did I mention the Eagles won the Super Bowl?